Toy vehicle



March 28, 1939. Y F. R. LABEN "roY VEHICLE Filed June 12, 1937Etfieniafi FRANK R LAB! N ratemea Mar. :6, 1363 I c v v y r UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE TOY VEHICLE Frank R. Labin, Bufialo, N. Y.

Application June 12, 1937, Serial No. 147,983

15 Claims. (01. 46213) My invention relates in general to toy vehicles,ported by a steering yoke 32 having two dependand particularly to thattype of vehicle which is ing bearing flanges 33 arranged one at eachpropelled by means of a spring motor. end of the yoke. The yoke 32 isformed with The principal object of my invention has been an upwardlyextending boss or fifth wheel 34.

to provide a toy vehicle or the like which is pro- This fifth wheel ismounted in a recess provided 5 vided with mechanism for automaticallysteering by an upwardly extending boss 35, formed in the vehicle in apredetermined path of figure 8 the base 9 and held therein by means of arivet form of relatively small dimensions. 36 which passes throughthe.boss and through Another object has been to provide a wheeled thefifth wheel 34.

10 toy which is steered in its path of movement by The base 9 isprovided with two oppositely 10 means of the rear wheels. arrangedarouate slots 40 which have their radii Another object has been toprovide a toy of struck from the center of the fifth wheel 34. thisnature which shall be inexpensive to manu- Each of these slots has anupturned flange 4| facture and which shall be durable inconstrucextending around the entire periphery so as to tion. reinforcethe metal of the base. These arcuate 15 The above objects and advantageshave been slots are wide enough to accommodate the rear accomplished bythe device shown in the accomwheels 30, the peripheries of which extenduppanying drawing, of which: wardly therethrough. The length of theslots Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation taken through is sufiicient topermit the wheels to have unrethe center of my complete device. strainedmovement during the oscillatory path 20 Fig. 2 is a plan view thereofwith the top part of the yoke 32, as hereinafter described. removed. Thebase is also provided with an arcuate slot Fig. 3 is a bottom, planview. 42, struck also from the center of the fifth wheel, Fig. 4 is anenlarged, fragmentary view of porthrough which the downwardly extendingportions of the operating mechanism. tion 43 of an operating rod 44 isdesigned to pass. 25

My device comprises a chassis part In having This rod has its endextended through the arcua base 9, made preferably of sheet metal andproate slot 42 and is provided with an extreme vided with an upturnededge ll into which the lower, outwardly extending arm 47 which is enbodypart I2 is designed to fit. The body part gaged with a suitable aperture45 formed in the maybe secured to the chassis part by means of fifthwheel. The forward end of the operating 30 suitable tabs 13 carried bythe body part and rod is extended to and connected with the pin passedthrough slots 14 formed in the chassis 46 of a crank 50 which forms apart of the spring part, such tabs being bent over or twisted aftershaft 5! of the motor. It will be seen that when passage through theslots. the crank 50 is rotated, the operating rod 44 will The chassiscomprises a pair of front wheels be reciprocated back and forth and willcause 35 I5. The front wheels I5 are non-steering and the fifth wheel34, together with its yoke 32 and are t driving whee1s of my vehicle.These rear wheels 30, to be oscillated back and forth wheels are mountedupon a driving shaft I 6 during the forward driving movement of thewhich is preferably of hexagonal cross-section, vehicle.

and this shaft is pivotally mounted in bearing The motor 22 is locatedat the front of the 4'0 lugs 20 carried by the framework 2| of thedrivchassis and it is secured to the base 9 in any ing motor 22, to behereinafter described. The suitable way, but preferably by means of tabsbase 9 is provided at its forward end with a lat- 56 which may extendthrough slots 51 formed eral slot 23 and two longitudinal slots 24, arinthe base. After the tabs are passed through ranged one. at each end ofthe lateral slot. These the slots 57, they are bent over or twisted, as45 slots provide space for the passage of the wheels desired. The springshaft 5| is rotatably car- I5 and the other driving parts of themechanism ried by the motor 22 in suitable manner and has which dependfrom the motor 22. At the outer the usual driving spring 52 attached toit, which edge of each of the slots 24 there .is provided a spring isconnected through suitable ratchet reinforcing flange 25 which is bentdown so as to means, not shown. The motor is provided with 0 stiffen thematerial around the slots. a driving gear 53 which is of the bevel typeand The steering mechanism 25 of my device is is carried by anintermediate shaft 54. This arranged at the rear of the chassis of thevedriving gear is arranged preferably immediately hicle and comprisestwo rear steering wheels 30 above the base 9 and engages with a driving55 mounted upon a shaft 3| which is pivotally suppinion 55 mounted uponthe driving shaft I6.

signed primarily to describe a path substantially in the form of afigure 8. In order to use such a toy it is quite essential, however,that the path described be relatively small. This, as hereinbeforestated, is accomplished in my invention by Steering the vehicle by means01' the rear wheels 30 ins ead of the Iront wheels '5. en

t laced the mo or s wolmcl up, and the toy is upon the the driving gear53 will 6 1'0- tatecl, which will cause the driving shaft is, carryingthe front wheels [5, to be rotated through the medium of the pinion 55,thus propelling the vehicle in a, forward direction. While the vehicleis being propelled, the spring shaft 5| is rotating, thereby causing theoperating rod 44 to be reciprocated through the medium of the crank 50carried by the spring shaft. Since the rear end 43 of the operatingshaft is engaged with the fifth wheel 34, this wheel will be oscillatedback and forth so that each of the rear Wheels 30 is alternately carriedto the front and to the rear of the vehicle in arcuate paths andsubstantially equidistantly from a transverse center line extendingthrough the pivot of the fifth wheel 34. By so oscillating the rearwheels 30, the vehicle will be turned first to the left and then to theright. The steering wheel is so geared in relation to the driving wheelsthat a relatively small figure 8 will be described by the path of thevehicle.

When winding the vehicle, the driving wheels 15 may be held by the handor suitable means, not shown, may be provided for locking the wheelseither during winding or when it is desired to stop the vehicle.

Obviously, some modifications of the details herein shown and describedmay be made Without departing from the spirit of my invention or thescope of the appended claims, and I do not, therefore, wish to belimited to the exact embodiment herein shown and described, the formshown being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A toy vehicle having a chassis, comprising a base, a motor carried bythe base, front wheels for the chassis, means connecting the motor withthe front wheels for driving the vehicle, rear steering wheels for thechassis, said rear wheels 3333 fixi iilifl i, ie siiiiiie iiiiii 3251112:2

the of oveme resume a emc erare.

2. A. toy vehicle having a chassis, comprising a base, a motor carriedby the base, front wheels for the chassis, means connecting the motorwith the front wheels for driving the vehicle, rear steering wheels forthe chassis, said. rear Wheels at each side and end of the Wheels andbeing formed with arcuate slots for the reception of the steeringwheels, whereby the vehicle is steered in substantially a figure 8 path.

3. A toy vehicle having a chassis, comprising a base, a motor mounted atthe front end of the Vehicle and secured to the base, driving wheels atthe front of the vehicle and operatively connected with the motor, apivoted steering yoke carried at the rear of the vehicle on the underside of the base, rear steering wheels pivotally carried by the saidyoke, an operating rod arranged on the upper side of the base and havingits forward end connected to the moto for giving "1: a reciprocatingmovement. the else bein of such size as to extend. over the wheels 3.each heels and being Iorme with an arcuate slot, said operating rodhaving a rear end for passage through the slot of the base and.

for engagement with the yoke, whereby the rear wheels will effect thesteering of the vehicle.

4. .A toy vehicle having a chassis, comprising a. base, a motor mountedat the front' end. of the vehicle and secured to the base, a, crankactuated by the motor, driving wheels at the front of the vehicle andoperatively connected with the motor, a pivoted steering yoke carried atthe rear of the vehicle on the under side of the base, rear steeringwheels pivotally carried by the said yoke, an operating rod arranged onthe upper side of the base, said rod having its forward end connected tothe crank of the motor for giving to it a reciprocating movement, thebase being formed with an arcuate slot, said operating rod having a rearend for passage through the slot of the base and for engagement with theyoke, whereby the rear wheels will effect the steering of the vehicle.

5. A toy vehicle having a chassis, a pair of nonsteering front wheelsfor the chassis, an axle for said front wheels having a fixed axis, amotor for the chassis mounted upon and above the axle of the frontwheels, a base secured to the motor, a body for the vehicle, carried byand secured to the base, the base being so positioned that substantiallyall of the motor and working parts of the device are enclosed andprotected, a steering yoke pivotally carried at the rear end of thebase, rear wheels pivotally carried by the yoke, the base being soproportioned that it extends beyond the wheels at the sides and ends ofthe vehicle, and operating means connecting the motor with the yoke forcausing an oscillatory movement of the yoke, whereby the rear wheelswill effect the steering of the vehicle.

6. A toy vehicle having a chassis, a pair of non-steering front wheelsfor the chassis, an axle for said front wheels having a fixed axis, a

motor for the chassis mounted upon and above the axle of the frontwheels, a base secured. to the motor, a. body for the vehicle, carriedby and yoke, the base being so proportioned that it; ex-

tends beyond the Wheels at the sides and ends of the vehicle, said basebeing formed with slots for the passage therethrough of the upperportions of the front and rear Wheels, and. an operating rod located onthe top of the base and connecting the motor with the yoke for causingan oscillatory movement of the yoke, whereby the rear wheels will effectthe steering of the vehicle.

7. A toy vehicle having a chassis, a pair of nonsteering front wheelsfor the chassis, an axle for said front wheels having fixed axis, amotor for the chassis having a crank and mounted upon I and above theaxle of the front wheels, a base secured to the motor, a body for thevehicle,

carried by and secured to the base, the base be ing so positioned thatsubstantially all of the motioned thatit extends beyond the wheels atthe sides and ends of the vehicle, said base being formed with slots forthe passage therethrough of the upper portionof the front and rearwheels, and an operating rod located on the top of the base andconnected at one end to the crank of the motor and at the other end tothe steering yoke, whereby the rear wheels will be oscillated and causethe vehicle to be steered in a substantially figure 8 path.

8. A toy vehicle having a chassis, a pair of non-steering front wheelsfor the chassis, an axle for said front Wheels having a fixed axis, amotor for the chassis having a crank and mounted upon and above the axleof the front wheels, a base secured to the motor, a body for thevehicle, carried by and secured to the base, the base being sopositioned that substantially all of the motor and working parts of thedevice are enclosed and protected, a steering yoke pivotally carried atthe rear end of the base, rear Wheels pivotally carried by the yoke, thebase being so proportioned that it extends beyond the wheels at thesides and ends of the vehicle, said base being formed with slots for thepassage therethrough of the upper portion of the front and rear wheels,and with an arcuate slot located over the steering yoke, and anoperating rod located on the top of the base and connected at one end tothe crank of the motor and having its other end passed through thearcuate slot of the base and attached to the steering yoke, whereby therear wheels will be oscillated and cause the vehicle to be steered in asubstantially figure 8 path.

9. A toy vehicle having a chassis, front and rear wheels for thechassis, each pair of wheels being provided with an axle, a motor forthe chassis mounted upon and above the axle of the front wheel, a baselocated between the motor and the axles and extending beyond the wheelsat the sides and ends of the vehicle, said base being secured to themotor and being formed with slots to permit the passage of the upperportions of the Wheels therethrough, a steering yoke pivotally carriedat the rear end of the base, the axle of the rear wheels being pivotallycarried by the yoke, and operating means connecting the motor with theyoke for causing an oscillatory movement of the yoke, whereby the rearwheels will effect the steering of the vehicle.

10. A toy vehicle having a chassis, front and rear wheels for thechassis, each pair of wheels being provided with an axle, a motor forthe chassis mounted upon and above the axle of the front wheel, a baselocated between the motor and the axles and extending beyond the Wheelsat the sides and ends of the vehicle, said base being secured to themotor and being formed with slots to permit the passage of the upperportions of the Wheels therethrough, a steering yoke pivotally carriedat the rear end of the base, the axle of the rear Wheels being pivotallycarried by the yoke, the yoke being formed with an an steering of thevehicle.

1 1'. toy vehicle having a chassis, front being provided with an axle, amotor for the chassis mounted upon and abovethe axle of the front wheel,a base located between the motor and the axles and extending beyond thewheels at the sides and ends of the vehicle, said base being secured tothe motor and being formed with" slots to permit the passage of theupper portions of the wheels therethrough, a steering yoke pivotallycarried at the rear end of the base, the axle of the rear wheels beingpivotally carried by the yoke, the yoke being formed with an annular,upstanding boss, said base being formed with a recess for the receptionof the boss, and an operating rod located on top of the base andconnecting the motor with the yoke, for causing an oscillatory movementof the yoke, whereby the rear wheels will efiect the steering of thevehicle.

12. A toy vehicle having a chassis, front and rear wheels for thechassis, each pair of wheels being provided with an axle, a motor forthe chassis mounted upon and above the axle of the front wheel, a baselocated between the motor and the axles and extending beyond the wheelsat the sides and ends of the vehicle, said base being secured to themotor, the base being formed with slots on each side of the motor forthe reception of the upper portions of the front wheels, a steering yokepivotally carried at one end of the base, the axle of the rear wheelsbeing pivotally carried by the yoke, the base being formed with arcuateslots concentric with the pivot of the yoke for the reception of theupper portions of the rear wheels, and an operating rod connecting themotor with the yoke for causing an oscillatory movement of the yoke,whereby the rear Wheels will effect the steering of the vehicle.

13. A toy vehicle having a chassis, front and rear wheels will effectthe steering of the vehicle. being providedwith an axle, a motor for thechassismounted upon and above the axle of the front wheel, a baselocated between the motor and the axles and extending beyond the wheelsat the sides and ends of the vehicle, said base being secured to themotor and being formed with slots to permit the passage of the upperportions of the wheels therethrough, a steering yoke pivotally carriedat the rear end of the base, the axle of the rear wheels being pivot)-ally carried by the yoke, the base being formed with an arcuate slotimmediately over the steering yoke, and an operating rod located on topof the base and having one end connected to the motor for oscillationand the other end passing through the arcuate slot and connected to theyoke.

14. A toy vehicle having a chassis, front and rear wheels for thechassis, each pair of wheels being provided with an axle, a motor forthe chassis having a crank and mounted upon and above the axle of thefront wheel, a base located between the motor and the axles andextending beyond the wheels at the sides and ends of the vehicle, saidbase being secured to the motor and being formed with slots to permitthe passage of the upper'portions of the wheels therethrough, a steeringyoke pivotally carried at the "-nular, upstanding bossjsaid base beingformed withia reb'essfor the receptionof the boss, and an operating rodconnecting the motor with the yoke for causing and oscillatory movementl of I the? yoke, whereby the rear wheels will effectthe a rearwheelsfor'the chassis, each pair of wheels rear end of the base, theaxle of the rear wheels being pivotally carried by the yoke, the basebeing formed with an arcuate slot immediately over the steering yoke,and an operating rod located on top of the base and having one endconnected to the crank and its other end passed through the arcuate slotand connected to the yoke for causing an oscillatory movement of theyoke, whereby the rear wheels will effect the steering of the vehicle.

15. A toy vehicle having a chassis, front and rear wheels for thechassis, each pair of wheels being provided with an axle, a motor forthe chassis having a crank and mounted upon and above the axle of thefront wheel, a base located between the motor and the axles andextending beyond the wheels at the sides and ends of the vehicle, saidbase being secured to the motor and being formed with slots to permitthe passage of the upper portions of the wheels therethrough, a steeringyoke pivotally carried at the rear end of the base, the axle of the rearwheels being pivotally carried by the yoke, the yoke being formed withan annular, upstanding boss, said base being formed with a recess forthe reception of the boss and with an arcuate slot formed through themetal in the recess, and an operating rod located in the top of the baseand having one end connected with the crank and the other end passingthrough the arcuate slot and, secured to the upstanding boss of the yokefor causing an oscillatory movement thereof, whereby the rear wheelswill effect the steer- 15 ing of the vehicle.

FRANK R. LABIN.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,152,06h. March 2 19 9.

ERANK 'E'. LABIN. It is hereby certified that error appears in theprinted specification of the above numbered patent requiring correctionas follows: Page 55second column, line l claim 10, for the word "and"read an; line if}, claim 15, strike out the words and period "willeffect the steering of the Vehicle." and insert instead for the chassis,each pair of wheels; and that the said Letters Patent should be readwith this correction therein that the same may conform to the record ofthe case in the 'Patent Office Signed and sealed this 27th day of June,A. D. 1959.

Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

